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Host Brandon Contes interviews Voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves and NBA/WNBA play-by-play for Prime Video and NBC Michael Grady. Brandon and Michael discuss a wide range of topics including Alex Rodriguez owning the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards and the "Face of the League" talk, being able to call nationally televised games for two companies, and more.
-2:05: Staying busy in the NBA
-3:57: Minnesota Timberwolves
-9:55: Early work
-17:14: Brooklyn Nets
-28:39: NBA on NBC/NBA on Prime Video
-46:46: WNBA on Prime and NBC/Peacock
-58:00: Anthony Edwards “Face of the NBA”
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Voice of the Charlotte Hornets Eric Collins. Brandon and Eric discuss a wide range of topics including his NFL broadcasting debut and his upcoming NBA work with Prime Video, working opposite Vin Scully at the Los Angeles Dodgers, calling Charlotte Hornets games while Michael Jordan was owner, and more.
-2:12: Calling first NFL game
-5:38: Doing NBA games for Prime Video/Dell Curry
-10:22: Broadcasting style
-30:18: Los Angeles Dodgers
-35:59: Charlotte Hornets/Michael Jordan
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Host Brandon Contes interviews author Rich Podolsky, whose new book "Madden & Summerall--How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting" is out wherever you purchase your books. Brandon and Rich discuss stories from Rich's book, which takes us through the broadcasting careers of John Madden and Pat Summerall when they were at CBS Sports. Rich was a staff writer at CBS and got to know the pair, but he especially became lifelong friends with Madden. Rich gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of the hall of fame coach and one of the defining voices of pro football.
-2:11: “Madden & Summerall”
-7:42: CBS Sports/Friendship with John Madden
-18:07: Madden with Pat Summerall
-35:00: Madden's influences
-39:21: Madden video game
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN football analyst and co-host of the "Scoop City" podcast, Chase Daniel. Brandon and Chase discuss a wide range of topics including how Kirk Herbstreit helped him call football games, Arch Manning's struggles, Jaxson Dart being the man on the New York Giants, and more.
-1:55: Calling college football games
-13:17: Studio work at ESPN
-16:34: Working at Fox
-25:04: Coaching?
-27:26: Arch Manning
-32:10: Jaxson Dart
-34:30: Playing surfaces/London NFL team
-38:26: Quarterback play/Travis Kelce
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Host Brandon Contes interviews editor-at-large at The Ringer and co-host for "The Press Box" podcast, Bryan Curtis. Brandon and Bryan discuss a wide range of topics including Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and reinstatement, Bill Simmons' influence on sports media, Molly Qerim leaving "First Take," Tom Brady's conflict of interest, and more.
-2:13: Jimmy Kimmel/Stephen A. Smith
-11:34: Career origins/Skip Bayless
-17:40: Bill Simmons/Grantland/The Ringer
-25:27: Molly Qerim
-28:30: Tom Brady
-38:03: Pat McAfee/“Inside the NBA”
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Host Brandon Contes interviews co-host for ESPN's "Unsportsmanlike" Evan Cohen. Brandon and Evan discuss a wide range of topics including him working on "Morning Men" and "Unsportsmanlike," his reaction to Molly Qerim leaving "First Take" and guest hosting, his interaction with Howard Stern, and more.
-2:08: ESPN Radio, hosting “Unsportsmanlike”
-12:45: “Morning Men” and SiriusXM
-28:29: Sports talk radio simulcast on TV
-44:55: Hosting “First Take”/Stephen A. Smith/Molly Qerim
-55:03: Miami Heat/Stugotz as a camp counselor/Howard Stern/Good Karma Brands
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Host Brandon Contes interviews former NFL player and analyst on "The NFL Today +" Kyle Long. Brandon and Kyle discuss a wide range of topics including growing up with Howie Long as a father, getting drafted by the Chicago White Sox but deciding to play football instead, being friends with Travis Kelce, and more.
-2:08: Chicago Bears Week 1
-15:22: Media career
-21:02: Howie Long
-23:26: Baseball career
-29:53: Broadcasting/YouTube Brazil game/Stephen A. Smith
-36:01: Kansas City Chiefs/Patrick Mahomes/Travis Kelce
-41:48: Week 1 overreactions
Photo courtesy of Mary Kouw/CBS
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Host Brandon Contes interviews host of "The Rich Eisen Show" and NFL Network Rich Eisen. Brandon and Rich discuss a wide range of topics including ESPN buying NFL Media and the NFL owning a piece of ESPN, hosting "SportsCenter" for the first time in over 20 years and paying tribute to Stuart Scott, "The Rich Eisen Show" moving to Disney+ and ESPN, and more.
-2:11: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
-6:30: NFL-ESPN deal
-22:09: “The Rich Eisen Show” and Pat McAfee
-41:10: Hosting “SportsCenter”
-52:37: NFL on YouTube, best NFL PBP, Super Bowl on streaming, New York Jets
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN college football staff writer Bill Connelly. Brandon and Bill discuss a wide range of topics including Bill Belichick at North Carolina, NIL and the transfer portal, whether or not promotion/relegation can work in college football, and more.
-1:54: Bill’s books, NIL, realignment, and network influence
-16:04: Common complaints, running for CFB commissioner, parity
-28:25: Pro/rel in college football, Donald Trump, pay-for-play
-35:54: Analytics
-40:59: Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, Deion Sanders, Arch Manning, conspiracy theories
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Damon Amendolara, host of "The D.A. Show With Babchik." Brandon and Damon discuss a wide range of topics including working for Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and having a show on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio channel, Mo Gaba calling into Damon's radio show and Mo's legacy, being fed up with what John Fisher is doing to the A's, and more.
Damon's YouTube channel @damonamendo (also Damon's social media handle) has weekly live shows, Q&A's, and monthly member's only chats.
-1:45: Mike Francesa
-7:27: Going to Syracuse
-15:04: Working in Kansas City and Boston
-26:30: Mo Gaba
-37:33: Leaving CBS Sports Radio for Sirius XM
-46:50: Mad Dog radio audience
-52:33: Chris “Mad Dog” Russo/Stephen A. Smith and Mad Dog Radio
-57:19: Covering John Fisher moving the A’s
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Host Brandon Contes interviews broadcasting legend Verne Lundquist. Brandon and Verne discuss a wide range of topics including Verne's time on the "Happy Gilmore" movies, the behind the scenes details of his iconic calls over his near 60-year career, his various broadcast partners, and more.
--2:01: “Happy Gilmore 2”
-15:35: Retirement/Iconic Masters calls
-35:34: Starting broadcasting career/Being Terry Bradshaw’s NFL broadcast partner
-50:55: SEC on CBS/Gary Danielson/Bill Raftery
-1:05:36: Current events
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky. Brandon and Dan discuss a wide range of topics including staying at ESPN and whether or not he considered leaving, praying for Damar Hamlin and having his autistic son on air during World Autism Awareness Day, his various food takes, and more.
-1:53: Staying at ESPN
-15:51: Being at ESPN/memorable moments
-29:41: Youth sports/coaching aspirations
-39:07: Working studio, booth, and debate shows
-43:58: Food takes
-49:03: Lloyd Howell and JC Tretter resigning from NFLPA/Matthew Stafford retirement
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Host Brandon Contes interviews founder of The IX newsletter, The Next, and author of "Becoming Caitlin Clark," Howard Megdal. With the WNBA All-Star Game coming up, Brandon and Howard discuss his new book along with a wide range of topics including Caitlin Clark's talent and her rise in popularity, how the media covers Clark, the WNBA's role and its responsibility in Clark's popularity with the rise of women's basketball, and more.
NOTE: We recorded before Clark re-aggravated her groin injury on July 15.
-1:51: Focusing on women’s sports coverage
-6:10: “Becoming Caitlin Clark” book
-12:44: Caitlin Clark talk
-26:01: WNBA talk, league growth, and their preparation for Caitlin Clark’s fame
-42:35: Christine Brennan’s Caitlin Clark book
-45:12: New York Mets season
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Yankees radio play-by-play broadcaster Dave Sims. Brandon and Dave discuss a wide range of topics including replacing John Sterling as voice of the Yankees, the public overreaction of torpedo bats, responding to Boomer Esiason's criticism of taking a series off in May, and more.
-1:49: Yankees talk, TV and radio
-8:06: Replacing John Sterling as voice of the Yankees, being a Black baseball broadcaster
-17:40: Suzyn Waldman, WFAN, Boomer Esiason, Howard Stern
-31:00: Yankees and Mariners fans, torpedo bats, Cal Raleigh
-39:37: Ford C. Frick nominee, hosting with Mike Krzyzewski, future broadcasting goals
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN NBA analyst and host of "The ALL NBA Podcast" Tim Legler. Brandon and Tim discuss a wide range of topics including how things like three point shooting and physicality in the NBA has changed since he played in the 90s, working at ESPN, the opportunity Damian Lillard has after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, LeBron James' opt-in to the Los Angeles Lakers, and more.
-1:42: Tim’s playing career
-20:29: Evolution of NBA from 90s to today
-24:00: Getting to ESPN and having a media career
-35:10: Changes in how media covers the NBA since the 90s
-39:24: Current NBA storylines
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN college basketball and NBA analyst Jay Bilas. Brandon and Jay discuss a wide range of topics including Cooper Flagg going from Duke to the NBA Draft, the future of NIL amid the House vs. NCAA settlement, practicing law while being a broadcaster, and more.
-:45: Cooper Flagg
-14:47: Oklahoma City Thunder
-16:37: NBA Draft
-24:09: Going from law to broadcasting
-27:12: House vs. NCAA settlement
-37:09: Coaching
-39:14: Working NCAA Tournament on CBS
-40:51: Working Duke games
-45:35: Working NBA games
-53:40: Jay Wright not interested in Knicks head coaching job
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Host Brandon Contes interviews "NBA on NBC" and "Big Ten Saturday Night" voice Noah Eagle. Brandon and Noah discuss a wide range of topics including how dad Ian Eagle is outside the broadcast booth, how the "NBA on NBC" will combine nostalgia with the current NBA product, being co-workers with Michael Jordan, working the Olympics with Dwyane Wade, and more.
-:45: Being young for original “NBA on NBC” run
-2:33: Favorite sport growing up
-3:39: Was NBA a possibility when Noah signed with NBC?
-5:11: First NBA memory
-8:56: Still able to be a Nets fan?
-10:11: NBC leaning into nostalgia with “NBA on NBC”
-13:28: Using AI for nostalgia reasons
-16:54: What will Michael Jordan do on NBC?
-18:13: NBC NBA announcer teams
-19:41: Nets fans feelings about Marv Albert
-21:49: Watching games when not broadcasting
-23:59: Having a famous last name in broadcasting
-27:01: Deciding to be a broadcaster
-29:11: Building a big enough resume to overcome nepotism claims
-31:09: Reading social media comments
-32:51: Getting the Clippers job right out of college
-36:09: Ian Eagle’s NBA plans?
-36:49: Does Ian come to Noah for advice?
-38:34: What is Ian good at other than broadcasting?
-40:04: Who has the more refined palette?
-41:09: Biggest game Noah called so far?
-44:00: Working with Dwyane Wade
-47:55: Wade to Prime Video
-48:53: Calling an NFL playoff game
-50:49: Calling college football
-54:27: A call Noah would like to do over
-55:53: Favorite call
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN's "Get Up!" and "Sunday NFL Countdown" host Mike Greenberg. Brandon and Mike discuss a wide range of topics including covering Michael Jordan in the early 90s, how "Inside the NBA" will do on ESPN, ESPN's strategy in covering Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft, and more.
-:48: Growing up a Knicks fan
-2:10: Greeny still a Knicks fan?
-4:33: Becoming Bulls beat writer in the 90s
-7:27: Michael Jordan with the local media
-10:25: Goals out of college
-12:11: Favorite interaction with Jordan
-19:03: Why does Greeny think Jordan retired from basketball?
-23:19: Jordan to NBC
-24:53: “Inside the NBA” to ESPN
-26:03: Feelings about “Inside the NBA” coming to ESPN if Greeny was still hosting “NBA Countdown”?
-27:33: Trying to get Charles Barkley on “Get Up!”
-29:53: Having a role with the NFL on ESPN
-32:33: Preparing for the NFL Draft
-35:50: Shedeur Sanders talk
-39:10: End of “Mike & Mike”
-42:02: Relationship with Mike Golic then and now
-42:48: Chemistry with Golic if show came back today?
-44:45: Chemistry with Jalen Rose and Michelle Beadle in start of “Get Up!”
-47:08: Pitch for “Get Up!”
-48:16: “Get Up!” evolution
-50:18: Pressure to do hot takes?
-52:56: Aaron Rodgers on “The Pat McAfee Show”
-54:22: McAfee on ESPN
-55:51: Missing radio?
-57:16: Guest hosting with Kelly Ripa after Regis Philbin’s retirement
-59:01: Just For Men commercials
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox IndyCar analyst and 2016 Indy 500 pole sitter James Hinchcliffe. With the 2025 Indy 500 approaching, Brandon and James discuss a wide range of topics including taking risks even after a near-fatal crash, working with Danica Patrick, how the series is going with Roger Penske owning a team as well as IndyCar, and more.
NOTE: We recorded with James on Tuesday 5/20, one day before Roger Penske announced he fired team president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski, and general manager Kyle Moyer. Awful Announcing reached out to Fox Sports to see if the news changed James' view and did not receive an update.
-:44: More fun preparing to race or commentate the Indy 500?
-1:20: Racing in IMSA
-2:31: Would James ever return to IndyCar racing?
-3:35: Difficulties of racing part-time compared to full-time drivers
-4:22: Learning to crash
-5:00: 2015 near-fatal crash
-7:08: Pushing through boundaries of risk
-8:17: Making the decision to retire
-9:17: Comfort level with criticizing fellow competitors and friends
-10:14: Calling first IndyCar race
-10:52: Is broadcasting fulfilling?
-11:49: Working with Danica Patrick
-12:16: Popularity boost replacing Patrick
-13:20: Working with Fox compared to NBC
-14:51: Fan response of Fox IndyCar coverage
-17:19: Team Penske penalties
-22:07: Roger Penske owning Team Penske, IndyCar, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway
-23:51: Will Fox discuss Penske penalties during race broadcast?
-24:38: Difficulty for Newgarden to win three Indy 500’s in a row
-25:17: Hélio Castroneves going for five Indy 500 wins
-25:42: Kyle Larson trying to do the Indy-Charlotte double
-26:05: Cold forecast at Indy
-26:35: Gaps in schedule for IndyCar
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Host Brandon Contes interviews "Fox NFL Sunday" host and Fox UFL play-by-play broadcaster Curt Menefee. Brandon and Curt discuss a wide range of topics including hosting "Fox NFL Sunday" and being a part of Jimmy Johnson's Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement, a look at the strengths and opportunities of the UFL, pressing New York City mayor Eric Adams in a live interview, and more.
-:50: Can a network have too many Dallas Cowboys games?
-2:02: Paying attention to NFL schedule release?
-3:32: Paying attention to TV ratings?
-4:27: What made “Fox NFL Sunday” so successful?
-6:09: Keeping the same feeling with Jimmy Johnson retiring
-7:32: Learning when Johnson was retiring
-9:22: Most memorable moment with Johnson
-11:35: Balancing keeping show on track while letting hijinks shine
-13:06: Terry Bradshaw
-13:50: Replacing James Brown
-17:47: Splitting hosting role with Joe Buck
-19:17: Relationship with Buck at the time?
-20:13: More pressure to build a new show or being the new guy on an established show?
-21:01: Differences of “Fox NFL Sunday” and “Good Day New York”
-23:31: Eric Adams interview
-24:51: Commute during NFL season
-26:48: Taking “Good Day New York” job
-29:01: Daily sports radio in Dallas
-30:26: Interacting with Skip Bayless
-31:03: UFL play-by-play
-32:39: UFL progression
-34:10: Is UFL a success story?
-35:53: Value of spring football
-36:59: The Rock’s involvement
-37:47: Seeing star potential with Greg Olsen
-39:23: Interest in calling NFL games again?
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